Any thoughts on Gary Lineker’s tweets?

[D365]

I wouldn’t claim to know nearly enough about the issues that are reportedly driving our government’s agenda. However, fundamentally, I feel Lineker’s commentary concerns the humanity of the proposed legislation more than anything. The attention that seems to be pointed towards his apparent breach of impartiality, rather than the actions of our government, is quite worrying.

 

[yorksrob]

I have a peripheral knowledge, but generally as long as he doesn't start spouting politics in his non-political TV programmes, I have no issue with him tweeting his opinions on his own time.

This view isn't without limits, but Linekar hasn't said anything that justifies his "stepping back" far as I can see.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My view would be that as long as that Twitter account isn't used with regard to that employer then he can Tweet what he likes on it. He's a contractor and has multiple jobs and thus can only be seen as speaking on behalf of the Beeb when he is presenting on it.

If he does use it for the Beeb perhaps a dedicated account for that would make sense.

 

[Tubeboy]

He tweets in a personal capacity. He’s not directly employed by the BBC. Best of luck to him. It’s a shame, but very unsurprising that the official opposition doesn’t say much. Not surprising as they’ve rapidly turned into a lukewarm version of the tories.

 

[Gloster]

My reading is that he was commenting on the language that was being used and, I think in reaction to statements that had been made, pointing out that we take far fewer refugees than most countries in Europe. However, his tweets have been twisted and misleading things said by those who want to use it as a distraction tactic or to bash the BBC.

 

[dosxuk]

The BBC have got themselves into a right mess with this. Rather than engage on the discussion that Lineker was having, they've allowed the whole thing to be turned into a "Gary called us Nazi's" debate, and then gone on their favourite activity of attacking themselves about not doing the right thing. Personally, I'd have been wanting to get him and Braverman on one of the morning radio shows to debate his point about the language being used - but then I'm not sure which party would be least inclined to want to do that.

There's plenty of people who appear on the BBC who are permitted to post their own thoughts on their own social media with no comeback from the Director General - take Alan Sugar for example - he's regularly posting political thoughts, while also hosting a prime time BBC One gameshow. Then there was Andrew Neil, who for many years posted pretty much nothing but political thoughts on his accounts, all the while fronting the BBC's political coverage. In Neil's case, most people were ok with this, as he demonstrated that he could interview politicians from all sides with equal fervour - but Lineker doesn't have anything to do with politics on the BBC, so what does it matter if he's got a particular political viewpoint?

That said, there have been several reports from BBC insiders that a lot of this is caused by people in the News department pushing this story because they are angry that they are held to a different standard of social media usage. If true, that means this is basically just an example of internal politics playing out for the world to see.

 

[gingerheid]

I find the inference (whether intended or careless) towards a comparison with the holocaust clumsy and in bad taste (our attitude to immigrants was exactly the same, so there's no need to invoke comparisons with Nazism and the extra baggage that brings to the table).

I don't in the slightest see how it could make him unfit to commentate on football, though.

 

[alex397]

I find the inference (whether intended or careless) towards a comparison with the holocaust clumsy and in bad taste (our attitude to immigrants was exactly the same, so there's no need to invoke comparisons with Nazism and the extra baggage that brings to the table).

I don't in the slightest see how it could make him unfit to commentate on football, though.

Did he mention the holocaust? no.

He just compared the language (not the actions) from Braverman et al to the language used in 1930s Germany. Which I agree with - they have used dehumanising language.

People disagreeing with Lineker’s Tweet is perfectly fine. But the media reaction to this is completely overblown (it’s the headline story on ITV News this evening which is beyond ridiculous). He was Tweeting in a personal capacity and he is not a newsreader.

Has there been calls for The Apprentice to be cancelled following Alan Sugar’s right-wing rants on Twitter? Not that I’m aware of.

 

[brad465]

Regardless of whether his choice of language was appropriate, this is another example of highlighting the first class hypocrisy of so-called "free speech warriors", who criticised his remarks and demanded he be cancelled, despite the fact they've complained when they get "cancelled" because of their views.

Also the BBC need to learn what impartiality and accountably actually mean, and would recommend they learn this quote: "If someone says it's raining, and another person says it's dry, the job of a journalist is not to strike a balance between them, it's to look of the ******* window and see who is correct."

 

[AlterEgo]

The BBC News app is sending push notifications about him and Ian Wright not presenting tomorrow’s programme as if it’s some massive national event. It isn’t.

 

[brad465]

The BBC News app is sending push notifications about him and Ian Wright not presenting tomorrow’s programme as if it’s some massive national event. It isn’t.

That's because the media at large, including the BBC and multiple tabloids, have made it some massive national event, like they do a load of other celebrity controversies/gossip.

 

[Fleetmaster]

Gary Lineker has probably made a massive mistake, for a!most zero benefit (many people think Tories are bastards? WHO KNEW!).

People in the Red Wall and the Shy Tories sure as hell don't see Gary Lineker as their moral compass, nor do the mythical Young People who we are always told are just ready and waiting to completely transform this country through the ballot box.

For a start, has nobody realised his "freedom of speech" in this matter breaches Twitter's pre-Musk hate speech prohibitions? He has literally been facilitated in his Freedoms by Donald Trump's biggest fan.

Secondly, has he seriously thought about what might happen if the BBC is forced by a court to abandon neutrality? The likely outcome if he sues them for breaching his human rights.

The Tories and right wing press are the only winners in that scenario. They have the means and the will to transform the BBC into a right of centre Voice Of The People.

 

[Jimini]

Shearer has said he won't be on the show tomorrow either, now.

 

[dosxuk]

For a start, has nobody realised his "freedom of speech" in this matter breaches Twitter's pre-Musk hate speech prohibitions? He has literally been facilitated in his Freedoms by Donald Trump's biggest fan.

Citation needed

Secondly, has he seriously thought about what might happen if the BBC is forced by a court to abandon neutrality? The likely outcome if he sues them for breaching his human rights.

Citation needed

 

[Fleetmaster]

He just compared the language (not the actions) from Braverman et al to the language used in 1930s Germany. Which I agree with - they have used dehumanising language.

And a literal Jewish Lord who escaped to Britain in the 30s, was then brought onto BBC radio to have to admit that while he agreed with the substance, he felt the Nazi comparisons "go too far".

Total fail.

Impartiality is impartiality.

 

[alex397]

And a literal Jewish Lord who escaped to Britain in the 30s, was then brought onto BBC radio to have to admit that while he agreed with the substance, he felt the Nazi comparisons "go too far".

Does his view represent all Jewish people living in the UK?

It’s worth noting that a Holocaust survivor asked the lovely Braverman directly:

“When I hear you using words against refugees like 'swarms' and an 'invasion', I am reminded of the language used to dehumanise and justify the murder of my family and millions of others.
"Why do you find the need to use that kind of language?

Quote from this BBC News article:

Suella Braverman confronted by Holocaust survivor over 'invasion' rhetoric​

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64282961

Also, I don’t think it was a direct comparison to the Nazis either. It was a comparison to the language used.

Maybe the Nazi comparison is too easy. But he could easily have used examples of Bosnia or Rwanda aswell, or anywhere where dehumanising words have been used to target people.

 

[brad465]

By the way, the Lineker situation is taking precedence, but he's not the only one the BBC have taken off air: David Attenborough's latest show has been pulled, with the Guardian claiming it's due to a fear of Government backlash. The BBC have denied that was the reason. Being the Guardian the natural instinct is this could be a biased view of why the show was canned, but outlets do tend to ensure their sources are good and if this is definitively false then the BBC could always sue The Guardian for libel and be confident of winning.

BBC will not broadcast Attenborough episode over fear of ‘rightwing backlash’

Exclusive: Decision to make episode about natural destruction available only on iPlayer angers programme-makers

www.theguardian.com

The BBC has decided not to broadcast an episode of David Attenborough’s flagship new series on British wildlife because of fears its themes of the destruction of nature would risk a backlash from Tory politicians and the rightwing press, the Guardian has been told.

The decision has angered the programme-makers and some insiders at the BBC, who fear the corporation has bowed to pressure from lobbying groups with “dinosaurian ways”.

The BBC strongly denied this was the case and insisted the episode in question was never intended for broadcast.

Lord Attenborough’s highly anticipated new series, Wild Isles, looks at the beauty of nature in the British Isles.

Narrated by David Attenborough, it is expected to be a hit, with five episodes scheduled to go out in primetime slots on BBC One.

A sixth episode has also been filmed, which is understood to be a stark look at the losses of nature in the UK and what has caused the declines. It is also understood to include some examples of rewilding, a concept that has been controversial in some rightwing circles.

 

[yorksrob]

And a literal Jewish Lord who escaped to Britain in the 30s, was then brought onto BBC radio to have to admit that while he agreed with the substance, he felt the Nazi comparisons "go too far".

Total fail.

Impartiality is impartiality.

He probably did go "too far" in practice. Comparing things with the NAZI's is usually iffy ground, but is someone making a questionable comment ,albeit in defence of western values as they see them, on their personal twitter reason to step back from presenting ?

I think not.

 

[43096]

Did he mention the holocaust? no.

He just compared the language (not the actions) from Braverman et al to the language used in 1930s Germany. Which I agree with - they have used dehumanising language.

People disagreeing with Lineker’s Tweet is perfectly fine. But the media reaction to this is completely overblown (it’s the headline story on ITV News this evening which is beyond ridiculous). He was Tweeting in a personal capacity and he is not a newsreader.

Has there been calls for The Apprentice to be cancelled following Alan Sugar’s right-wing rants on Twitter? Not that I’m aware of.

It is also, apparently, OK for the Chairman of the BBC to act as loan finder for the Prime Minister. And presumably the BBC didn't have an issue with its staff criticising the human rights record of Qatar during the World Cup.

Ultimately this is all about the BBC being **** scared of the foaming-at-the-mouth wing of the Tory party and its acolytes in the media (Daily Heil et al). Which means that Alan Sugar's tweets are fine, as are Karen Brady's donations to the Tory party.

 

[Peterthegreat]

How can the truth be anything but impartial?

 

[43096]

He probably did go "too far" in practice. Comparing things with the NAZI's is usually iffy ground, but is someone making a questionable comment ,albeit in defence of western values as they see them, on their personal twitter reason to step back from presenting ?

I think not.

Isn't the fact that the right wing of the Tory party, through the BBC in this case, are attempting to silence views they don't like exactly the sort of thing that happened in 1930s Germany?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Isn't the fact that the right wing of the Tory party, through the BBC in this case, are attempting to silence views they don't like exactly the sort of thing that happened in 1930s Germany?

Yes.

 

[AlterEgo]

Isn't the fact that the right wing of the Tory party, through the BBC in this case, are attempting to silence views they don't like exactly the sort of thing that happened in 1930s Germany?

It’s not really a great comparison though is it? You can’t compare everything to the Nazis. It’s a symptom of our appalling historical illiteracy in this country that everything just gets compared to Hitler and the Nazis, as if it’s everyone’s only frame of reference.

 

[yorksrob]

Isn't the fact that the right wing of the Tory party, through the BBC in this case, are attempting to silence views they don't like exactly the sort of thing that happened in 1930s Germany?

Maybe the right wing throwing its weight around a bit. I don't know if that's exclusive to right wing governments in this country in relation to the BBC.

 

[dosxuk]

Isn't the fact that the right wing of the Tory party, through the BBC in this case, are attempting to silence views they don't like exactly the sort of thing that happened in 1930s Germany?

As someone on Twitter put it "if I was someone trying to refute accusations of being like Nazi Germany, calling for the sacking of dissenting voices is not a very good way about going about it".

 

[alex397]

It’s not really a great comparison though is it? You can’t compare everything to the Nazis. It’s a symptom of our appalling historical illiteracy in this country that everything just gets compared to Hitler and the Nazis, as if it’s everyone’s only frame of reference.

Sure, he could have been more original and used another backwards government as an example. But, in my view, it’s still correct to say that the language being used by our government is not dissimilar to some language used in Germany during the 1930s.
It’s also not dissimilar to slogans used on National Front posters in the 70s.

 

[yorksrob]

It’s a symptom of our appalling historical illiteracy in this country that everything just gets compared to Hitler and the Nazis, as if it’s everyone’s only frame of reference.

This is true.

 

[brad465]

The BBC must be at the centre of the earth by now:

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsPR/status/1634248119415353344

BBC statement on last night's Question Time

Image attached

 

[Yew]

And a literal Jewish Lord who escaped to Britain in the 30s, was then brought onto BBC radio to have to admit that while he agreed with the substance, he felt the Nazi comparisons "go too far".

Total fail.

Impartiality is impartiality.

I'm glad that the right wing didn't have their way in the 1930's. Here's a snippet from the daily mail in 1938.

"The way stateless Jews and Germans are pouring in from every port of this country is becoming an outrage. I intend to enforce the law to the fullest."

In these words, Mr Herbert Metcalde, the Old Street Magistrate yesterday referred to the number of aliens entering this country through the 'back door' -- a problem to which The Daily Mail has repeatedly pointed.

The number of aliens entering this country can be seen by the number of prosecutions in recent months. It is very difficult for the alien to escape the increasing vigilance of the police and port authorities.

Even if aliens manage to break through the defences, it is not long before they are caught and deported.

 

[GS250]

To be fair most 'left wing' people I know want the boat situation stopped.

Lineker's issue is not necessarily his right to an opinion, but the fact he's used the ridiculous 'nazi' theme. He's also managed to pretty much confirm himself as the archetypical privileged, gated community type who will never have to deal with the consequences of mass migration.

The irony of a white bloke being triggered by the actions of three Asians regarding toughening up on illegal migration though!